What is RDCS certification and how do I become certified?

Orbit Staff -

What is RDCS® certification?

The Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer certification from the Alliance for Physician Certification & Advancement (APCA) allows sonographer professionals to "gain a critical edge in promoting public safety in cardiac sonography."

Obtaining your RDCS® certifies your knowledge and proficiency in the field of diagnostic cardiac sonography.

Any sonography professional, whether you are a physician, licensed sonographer, or student working towards a degree in sonography, can earn ARDMS certifications. Just make sure you meet one of the 5 prerequisite options before applying.

There are 3 specialties under the RDMS certification that you must choose from.

How do I become RDCS® certified?

To earn your RDCS® certification you must first pass the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) examination. Once you have passed the SPI exam you must then take your specialty examination (AE, FE, PE) and pass.

Step 1: Decide which prerequisite requirement to apply under

There are 5 prerequisite options based on education level for earning an ARDMS certification. Choose the prerequisite to apply under based of your education level and ensure you have met the clinical requirement.

  1. Completed a 2-year Allied Health patient care related program
  • Must have 12 months of clinical ultrasound/vascular experience

2. Graduate or student of a diagnostic medical or cardiac sonography/vascular technology program

  • No additional clinical experience is required
  • If you earn your certification while a student you must graduate successfully to keep your certification

3A. Bachelor’s degree

  • Must have 12 months of clinical ultrasound/vascular experience

3B. Graduate or student of a sonography bachelor’s degree program

  • No additional clinical experience is required
  • If you earn your certification while a student you must graduate successfully to keep your certification

5. Hold one of the following certifications

  • RCS, RCCS, RVS through the CCI
  • Sonography, Vascular or Breast sonography credentialing through the ARRT
  • CRGS, CRCS, CRVS through Sonography Canada
  • DMU through ASUM

Physician prerequisite: MD, DO, or MBBS degree

  • Minimum of 500 clinical diagnostic cases in specialty area over 6 months

If you are a student early in your education you can take the SPI exam under the SPI exam requirement which just requires that you have taken a general medical or sonographic physics course. You must then graduate and reapply under one of the 5 above prerequisite options to take your specialty examination.

Step 2: Gather supporting documentation of eligibility

See below for required documentation per prerequisite option

Prerequisite 1

  • Copy of official transcript
  • Copy of program certification/license
  • Letter from supervising physician or program director certifying your clinical experience
  • Signed and completed clinical verification form for your speciality area(s)
  • Copy of government issued photo ID

Prerequisite 2

  • Copy of diploma or official transcript
  • Letter from program director or medical director verifying your completion of program
  • If applying for ARDMS certification past 1 year of your graduation from program must complete clinical verification form
  • Copy of government issued photo ID

Prerequisite 3A

  • Copy of bachelor’s degree of official transcript
  • Letter from supervising physician certifying your clinical experience
  • Signed and completed clinical verification form for your speciality area(s)
  • Copy of government issued photo ID

Prerequisite 3B

  • Copy of bachelor’s degree of official transcript
  • Letter signed by an education program director verifying length of ultrasound or vascular experience
  • If applying for ARDMS certification past 1 year of your graduation from program must complete clinical verification form
  • Copy of government issued photo ID

Prerequisite 5

  • Copy of license or active credential identification card
  • Signed and completed clinical verification form for your speciality area(s)
  • Copy of government issued photo ID

Physician Prerequisite

  • Copy of current valid license
  • Letter verifying completion of ultrasound or vascular experience
  • Patient log documenting 500 clinical diagnostic cases (in case of audit, not to be submitted with application)

Step 3: Apply for the SPI examination, provide payment, and upload supporting documents

  1. Log in to MY ARDMS and choose the “Apply Online” option.
  2. Upload your supporting documents within 21 days of applying
  3. The examination fee is $225 USD which includes a $100 non-refundable processing fee. (If found ineligible you will be refunded minus the processing fee)

Step 4: Receive your Examination Confirmation Letter (ECL) email and schedule your exam

  • Create a Pearson VUE account to schedule your exam
  • You have 90 days to schedule and take your exam from when you receive your ECL

Step 5: Prepare for the SPI exam

  1. Review exam content
  2. Take a practice test. Sign-up for a practice test through your MY ADRMS account. Each practice test fee is $35 USD. There are 2 practice tests available.

Step 6: Take the SPI exam and receive score report at test center

  • The primary test result is a PASS or FAIL decision.
  • You will receive a scaled score from 300-700. A score of 555 is a passing score.
  • You can request a score verification by filling out the request form and paying the $35 USD fee.

Step 7: Apply for your specialty examination, provide payment, and upload supporting documents

  1. Log in to MY ARDMS and choose the “Apply Online” option.
  2. Upload your supporting documents within 21 days of applying
  3. The examination fee is $250 USD which includes a $100 non-refundable processing fee. (If found ineligible you will be refunded minus the processing fee)

Step 8: Receive your Examination Confirmation Letter (ECL) email and schedule your exam

  • Create a Pearson VUE account to schedule your specialty exam
  • You have 90 days to schedule and take your exam from when you receive your ECL

Step 9: Prepare for your specialty exam

  1. Review exam content

2. Take a practice test. Sign-up for a practice test through your MY ADRMS account. Each practice test fee is $35 USD.

Step 10: Take your specialty exam and receive score report at test center

  • The primary test result is a PASS or FAIL decision.
  • You will receive a scaled score from 300-700. A score of 555 is a passing score.
  • You can request a score verification by filling out the request form and paying the $35 USD fee.

Step 11: Receive your certification

If you passed both the SPI and your specialty examinations you will be awarded a RDCS certification that is effective from the date of your specialty examination.

CME Requirements

After you earn your RDCS certification, you’ll need to maintain your certification with the ARDMS by earning continuing medical education (CME) credits. Learn more about those requirements here.

Questions? We're glad to help. Email support@orbitcme.com